Jury Finds Aliquippa Man Guilty Of Drug And Firearms Offenses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2010

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, March 11, 2010, that after deliberating for 35 minutes, a jury of eight men and four women found Anthony Johnson, Jr. guilty of three counts of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws.

Anthony Johnson, Jr., age 21, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that on August 23, 2007, and again on March 5, 2008, Johnson possessed with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of crack cocaine. Additionally, on March 5, 2008, Johnson possessed a 9mm handgun that was fully loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round of ammunition in the gun's chamber.

Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for July 11, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years to a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $2,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Aliquippa Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Anthony Johnson, Jr.

This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.